Tendulkar begins practice

Minute-by-minute scrutiny of Sachin Tendulkar's injury continues as he batted for 25 minutes at the Mumbai Cricket Association ground, watched by Ian Fraser, the bio-mechanist and Gregory King, the Indian team's trainer. Both Fraser and King were happy with his performance at practice. His fitness will be assessed on May 20 and Andrew Leipus, the team's former therapist will assist him in his recovery.

Tendulkar first batted for five minutes and then after a break batted for 20 more, with the ball thrown at him. This was his second time wielding the bat since the operation, opting for some light batting practice yesterday, with John Gloster, the team's physiotherapist looking on.

Tendulkar pulled out of the seven-match one-day series at home against England in March-April 2006 and had surgery on his shoulder on March 29 after he complained of pain while throwing the ball, though not while batting or bowling.

He will not play the one-day series against West Indies beginning May 18 in Jamaica. The decision regarding his availability for the Test squad will be taken once Gloster, Dr. Andrew Wallace, his surgeon and Tendulkar himself are confident of his recovery, Niranjan Shah, the board's secretary, explained. The Test team will be announced on May 24.

In 2004, Sachin suffered a tennis elbow which kept him out of the Champion's Trophy in England and the first two Tests at home against Australia in October the same year.